N H Miller1, D J Miller, M Chism. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts 01199, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine how employment as a resident physician (resident) affects breastfeeding practices and experiences. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. SETTING: US resident physicians in the second half of their postgraduate year three (PGY3). PARTICIPANTS: 1500 questionnaires were mailed at random to female 1990 graduates of American medical schools. After eliminating unusable surveys, an adjusted response rate of 45% produced 450 surveys; 60 delivered a child during residency. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENT/MAIN RESULTS: Forty-eight (80%) of 60 residents who delivered initiated breastfeeding, and continued for the duration of their maternity leave (mean, 7 weeks). With a return to residency half (24) of those who had initiated breastfeeding discontinued breastfeeding. The breastfeeding rate dropped to 15% (9/60) at 6 months. Residency work schedule was the most common reason (80%) for discontinuing breastfeeding. Of the 24 residents who continued breastfeeding while working, 83% pumped breast milk during their work shifts; 79% felt there was insufficient time during work, and 42% reported no appropriate place at work to express milk. Only 54% who continued felt supported by their attending physicians for their efforts to breastfeed; 67% felt colleagues were supportive. CONCLUSIONS: The breastfeeding initiation rate for resident mothers was in compliance with the Healthy People 2000 guidelines, but the rate at infant age 6 months fell well below the goal of 50%. Modifiable factors in residents' work sites include both physical and emotional accommodations to encourage resident mothers to breastfeed.
OBJECTIVE: To determine how employment as a resident physician (resident) affects breastfeeding practices and experiences. DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. SETTING: US resident physicians in the second half of their postgraduate year three (PGY3). PARTICIPANTS: 1500 questionnaires were mailed at random to female 1990 graduates of American medical schools. After eliminating unusable surveys, an adjusted response rate of 45% produced 450 surveys; 60 delivered a child during residency. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENT/MAIN RESULTS: Forty-eight (80%) of 60 residents who delivered initiated breastfeeding, and continued for the duration of their maternity leave (mean, 7 weeks). With a return to residency half (24) of those who had initiated breastfeeding discontinued breastfeeding. The breastfeeding rate dropped to 15% (9/60) at 6 months. Residency work schedule was the most common reason (80%) for discontinuing breastfeeding. Of the 24 residents who continued breastfeeding while working, 83% pumped breast milk during their work shifts; 79% felt there was insufficient time during work, and 42% reported no appropriate place at work to express milk. Only 54% who continued felt supported by their attending physicians for their efforts to breastfeed; 67% felt colleagues were supportive. CONCLUSIONS: The breastfeeding initiation rate for resident mothers was in compliance with the Healthy People 2000 guidelines, but the rate at infant age 6 months fell well below the goal of 50%. Modifiable factors in residents' work sites include both physical and emotional accommodations to encourage resident mothers to breastfeed.
Authors: Erika L Rangel; Douglas S Smink; Manuel Castillo-Angeles; Gifty Kwakye; Marguerite Changala; Adil H Haider; Gerard M Doherty Journal: JAMA Surg Date: 2018-07-01 Impact factor: 14.766